Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-22

spending money for himself. YET fearing
she would suspect, and, moving that she
had little with which to carry out her own
plans, he wisely forbore.
~ am going to the station to meet tho tan
O'Clock train, Teddy" she sand, q he was
hitching Doll, land you may meet me theEs
with the sleigh"
Father isn't coming home, is hef' said
Ted, in CONSERVATION.
"No, DEAR" replied the mother, laughing
at his alarm, ''but I think there win b
somebody there. and she darted into dry.
goods store, without explaining the myD,
terry.
Ted went into another store to get wasw,
and then amused himself wandering up and
down the street. looking into the shop win
d0ws, which were gay with Christmas
goods, and thinking what he would buy Il
The had the means.
He had spent fully twenty-five dollars in
this imaginary way, when he observed .
stranger come out from one Of the stores,
and walk away briskly.
He had pleasant face, and stepped OF
with the assured air Of one who is accus-
toned to having the good things Of this life.
It was q warm, sunny day, and his heavy
overcoat was thrown jauntly open, and, n
he passed up the street he drew his hand
kerchief from an inside pocket, and blew
his nose with q sonorous blast -
Ted was watching all this with interest,
for the mans pleasant face had pleased his
childish fancy, and as the handkerchief
came out the boy saw another object fly out
also and lodge in the dirty snow of the gut
ter, while the gentleman walked quickly on,
| quite unaware of his loss.
Ted's first thought was that it was only .
| piece OF paper, and it did not occur to him Ia
investigate the matter, but second Thoughts
sent him flying to the spot, where, after
some little search, he found u small pack
age wrapped in white paper and decorated
with an express label; there was evidently
a small box within, and Ted ran as fast a.
his legs would carry him to restore it to the
owner.
That jaunty gentleman was just getting
into handsome sleigh as Ted turned the
| corner. and Away he went
sinister, mister" screamed Ted at the ton
| Of his voice, which the bells drowned, and
| then began a race-Ted running for dea.
| life, the horses trotting along with no idea
that they were pursued.
The boys legs did him good service, how
ever, and at last he succeeded in attracting
| the attention of the driver. whats this,
| my ladl' he said, kindly. want rideP'
''N-n-nO," painted Teddy, all Ozt of breath,
shut you lost this, sir, and picked it up"
and he held up the package
''Well, well, did ever" said the gentle
man, feeling hastily in his pocket. ''What
careless trick. And so you've pretty near
run your legs of to catch me, ehr'
Il guess they're all whole yet, SIR" 70
Piled Ted, with smile, and yet putting with
the race.
He handed over the box, while the stran-
ger took out fat pocket-book. christmas
is coming. my boy, and may be you'll like an
extra bit Of surprise money!" he said, good
naturally, as he handed out five-dollar
bill to the aston,shed child
''Oh, sir, that's too much" and Ted Of
fered it back, quite overwhelmed by such
mGnifcence.
''WeI, don't know about that" said the
gentleman, ''t1at box contains watch
worth two hundred dollars, and by the time
l had advertised it ana paid a reward, it
would have cost me double the amount, be-
sides the chances Of my finding it again, SO
on the whole, think l am rewarding you
very moderately" and he buttOned his
overcoat over box and pocket-book resOlute-
ly, and prepared to drive on.
A whole arena of Christmas presents
danced through Ted's happy brain, as he
thanked the generous gentleman for his
gift, and they parted with mutual good feel.
ing.
IF had such father as that solilo-
quized the child, 'what a good boy I'd Be-"
IF had an honest, bright-faced boy like
that" said the gentleman, ''what happy
father I'd be-"
Ted had never before kept secret from
keep from telling his adventure, but secrets
were flying in the air apparently and ha
held Oh to his with true Christmas tenacity.
He had suspected by this time who WIS
coming on the train, and he was on time 1t
the station with Doll he had also wisely con-
cluded to wait bit for her advice and as
sistance before spending his wealth.
Aunt Nan stepped of the train when IL
came in, looking roster and jollier than ever,
Ted thought, as she Rugged him up close to
her warm furs, and she had the latest
sachel and the heaviest basket he had over
lifted.
There was perfect jubilee Of welcome
when the party reached home, and Aunt
Nan took her namesake and little Jane into
her warm embrace, to their complete sur
prise, for they had never dreamed Of such
happy arrival. 1.-THE little dears," said
Aunt Nan, as she and Mrs. Rexford made
several mysterious trips to the barn, re.
turning with contraband bundles under
heir aprons, ''they shall have one Christ
mas, if they never do another
Sucha merry-making the Rexford house
had never witnessed before. Billy Grant
lad good-naturedly consented to go to the
woods and cut . small evergreen, which
vas conveyed to the perlor secretly, and il
was not rs brilliantly lighted and
trimmed as it might have been, it was .
tree, nevertheless, hung with
'opcorn, apples and oranges and gifts, un-
il the children were nearly wild with do
light when they saw it.
A long pail, full Of some my sterious CON-
'ound, had been sitting in tub in the
careiessly covered over with q
iece Of carpet, and this was found to con-